Lecture 17

1
Condenser Cooling
Water System
Condenser Cooling Water (CCW)
System Requirements
Condenser maintains very low absolute
pressure (near vacuum) through condensation
process of steam (around 25200 times of
volume reduction)
This allows roughly 35% more energy
extraction than if the steam is left at
atmospheric pressure
The effectiveness of the Condenser Cooling
Water (CCW) causing condensation is
therefore an important requirement
This water is normally taken from river, lake,
sea and also from water cooled by Natural
Draft Cooling Towers (NDCTs), which draw
make-up water from river or lake
NDCTs provide required cooling through
evaporation process and need make-up water
mainly due to this reason
2
Condenser Cooling Water (CCW)
System Requirements
While removing 70% of the reactors thermal
power into natural sources like river and sea,
following are to be ensured:
Minimize the extent of thermal pollution in the
receiving water by limiting a temperature rise of
5C within the shortest distance from the outfall
Minimize hot water recirculation at the intake
CCW flow is to be adjusted to keep the
condensate at saturation temperature as
subcooling would reduce thermal cycle
efficiency
3
Functions and Ratings of CCW
System
The breakup of cooling water flow
requirement and heat load for a typical 220
MWe NPP is:








*These systems only discharges into CCW discharge
downstream of condenser
4
Equipment Flow required (m
3
/hr) Heat load (K.cal/hr)
Main condenser 33230 4.452 x 10
8

Turbine oil cooler 550 1.06 x 10
6

Boiler blow down cooler 90 0.9 x 10
6

Air extraction unit 108 0.4 x 10
6

Total CCW flow 33993
*Other NPP systems 2401 8.775 x10
6

Functions and Ratings of CCW
System
Number of CCW pumps 3
Pump head 25.50 mWC
Shut-off head 42 mWC
Type Mixed flow vertical turbine
bowl assembly pull out
type
Capacity 11650 m
3
/hr
Motor rating 1100 KW
CCW tunnels 3000mm (W) x
2500mm (D) based on 1.3
m/sec design velocity
Design pressure of the system 4.0 kg/sq.cm
based on shut-off head of
CCW supply
5
Functions and Ratings of CCW
System
6
Simplified Condenser Cooling Water (CCW) Systems
CCW Pumps
These are high flow pumps with low discharge
head
They have a mixed flow characteristic
Generally, started with discharge valve, part
open to limit startup current
Butterfly valve in pump discharge is kept full
open, when the pump is operating
Pump bearings are rubber lined and cooled by
clean water
These are vertical pull out type pumps, driven
by an induction motor
Condenser cooling water is circulated such
that the siphon effect is utilized
This saves electrical power consumption of
CCW pumps
The condenser cooling pumps shall be tripped
automatically on low water level in the event
of screen or intake blockage
When the pump is tripped, the discharge
valve is closed
7
A View of Water Intake System
8
Stop Gate
Trash Rake
Dual Flow Travelling
Water Screen
Travelling Water Screen
Travelling water screens are provided at pump
suction to filter CCW water continuously
This removes particles of over half inch
The screen has rotating buckets which are
cleaned by water jet
Screen Dp is monitored continuously and it
alarms when it exceeds the preset value
9
Travelling Water Screen
10
Travelling Water Screen
11
Operational Limitations and
Problems in CCW System
The requirement about minimizing thermal
pollution in the receiving water by limiting a
temperature rise of 5C within the shortest
distance from the outfall is a limitation
This is because warmer station affluent can
affect local aquatic life, promoting growth of
some species and endagering others
So limits are imposed on cooling water
teperature rise (T) and affluent temperature
(TE)
Approach to be taken on finding increase in
(T) and (TE) values
Placing another CCW pump (if available) in service
Checking the pressure drop across the CCW intake
screen and cleaning them if necessary
Checking the operation of vacuum priming
system, so that CCW flow due to excessive
accumulation of gases in the condenser water
boxes
Mechanical cleaning of fouled condenser tubes
12
Water Hammer Prevention
The very large CCW flow rate causes
enoromous kinetic energy of the flowing
water
This promotes severe water hammer during
CCW pump startup, shutdown and trips
Following general operating practices to be
used for water hammer prevention:
Sufficient time delay before the next pump is
started
Proper positioning and slow opening/closing of
discharge valves during pump start/shutdown
Opening the condenser outlet isolating valve
before the starup of first CCW pump
13